Maybe Dr. Frankenstein created this saddle out of the pieces lying around the laboratory?
Recently, volunteer Maxine Obleski, was describing the physical characteristics of several of the saddles in the permanent collection when she came across a western style side saddle that made us both scratch our heads.
(Refresher& proper ladies would ride with both legs on one side of the saddle. Each leg assisted by a curved piece called the pommel. Most of the body weight would be on the riders left hip/ sit bone. One stirrup was present for use with the left foot.)
In front of us sat a saddle that:
1. The front was angled up and out to the edge between the fixed pommel and the front edge (where your right leg would go around).
Maxine: Okay this is higher than normal but maybe the rider had an issue with their right leg or hip and they needed the additional height?
2. Normally there is one design that decorates the artifact either overall or in accent areas. This one has a diamond design on the seat but plain side flaps on the left only. Then there was a second set of flaps underneath that were elaborately tooled with a floral and leaf design.
Diane: Thats unusual. Normally there is only one set of flaps.
3. Underneath the right side of the seat was a leather pocket with a snap to close on the flap.
Diane: This looks like it belongs on a saddle bag.
Maxine: Maybe thats where she kept her lipstick?
4. When you peered underneath, the bottom was not solid like the other examples but had an open oval area at the center.
5. The leaping pommel, which was not present, does not have an adjustment screw (so the rider could adjust the position of how the left leg was supported) and the hole that the screw would be inserted into the saddle area is solid with the leather ripped nearby.
Maxine: Maybe the leather has shrunk so much that the holes dont line up anymore?
Diane: Maybe but the distance is several inches.
[Note: The leaping pommel is removable. To have a saddle with the leaping one missing is pretty common. There are three other side saddles in the collection that are missing the leaping pommel besides this one. ]
6. Several areas around the pommels, or where the pommels should be, as well as around the flaps have nails visible.
Maxine: This one goes from the top through both flaps into the base.
Diane: Look there is a burlap like pad between the base and the inner set of flaps. I wonder why this was added? Not for additional cushioning.
Maxine: Yeah. The yellow fleece wool left on the underside of the saddle wouldnt be too comfortable for the horse either.
Diane: Maybe Dr. Frankenstein created this saddle out of the pieces lying around the laboratory?
This conversation topic sparked others with people we met. We found out that side saddles are manufactured new today however something is not quite the same as saddles made in the 1880-1920s. The users continued to explain that the saddle, although over 100 years old, might be altered to better fit the modern rider. Maybe this is what happened to the saddle we came across?? If only the saddle could tell its story.
Written by: Diane Carlson, 3D Collections Team